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Pillow Talks

EPISODE 216: The Truth About Being Passive In Bed: And How To Take Control

Pillow Talks

Vanessa & Xander Marin

Health & Fitness, Sexuality

4.82.2K Ratings

🗓️ 10 July 2025

⏱️ 52 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Does this sound familiar? Your partner asks you to take control in the bedroom… and your brain completely short-circuits. You freeze. You feel awkward. You suddenly have no idea what to do. If you’ve ever found yourself defaulting to passivity during intimacy—or if the idea of “being in control” feels totally foreign—you’re so not alone. In today’s episode, we’re asking the question: Are you letting sx happen to you… or are you a active participant during it? We’re also talking about this from a male perspective: What does it feel like to be the only one initiating or guiding? Do men want their partners more engaged—and what does that even look like? Whether you’ve never taken the lead before, or you’re just looking to feel more empowered and participatory, this episode is your permission slip—and your how-to guide. Let’s get into it. 💛 Here’s what we’re covering: Why so many women default to passivity in the bedroom What men actually think about women taking the lead Questions to ask your partner to open up this convo What “taking control” can look like—without the pressure Simple ways to be more confident and engaged in the moment 🔗 Links & Resources 🔥 The Art of Initiation — our most-loved guide for learning how to confidently initiate intimacy →  http://vmtherapy.com/initiation ✨ Join us inside Deeper to access the brand new Sensual Touch Challenge and finally understand what turns you (and your partner) on → vmtherapy.com/deeper 🎧 Stay connected: 📸 Follow us on Instagram ➡️ **https://instagram.com/vanessaandxander** 💌 Get our weekly email — with behind-the-scenes stories, expert tips, and so many sex puns. Sign up here 👉🏻 vmtherapy.com/subscribe 🎧 Never miss an episode! Subscribe to Pillow Talks wherever you listen to pods! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Ladies, has your partner ever asked you to take control in the bedroom and your brain just immediately short-circuited?

0:09.2

Like if you've ever felt awkward, totally frozen up, had no clue what taking control even means, you are definitely not alone.

0:31.7

Hello and welcome to the Pillow Talks podcast. We're your host, Vanessa, and Zander Marin.

0:38.9

I'm a sex therapist with over 20 years of experience. And I'm just a regular dude. We share the ups and downs in our relationship while giving you step-by-step techniques

0:40.9

for improving yours.

0:42.4

Make sure you subscribe for your weekly double date

0:44.8

full of totally doable sex tips,

0:47.0

practical relationship advice,

0:48.9

hilarious and honest stories of what really goes on

0:52.1

behind closed bedroom doors and so much more.

0:55.1

It's the sex education you wish you'd had.

0:59.8

In today's episode, we are diving into the many reasons why women tend to default to passivity

1:07.0

in the bedroom, how we're socialized to protect male egos, to avoid rocking the boat, to wait

1:12.9

for our partners to take the lead. Because here's the thing, like, letting go of that script

1:18.4

isn't just liberating. It can also transform your connection, your pleasure, and your confidence.

1:25.6

And also it can transform the way that your partner experiences sex with you too.

1:30.1

Like I think that, I think that, yeah, like when both partners take an active role, like,

1:36.6

it can greatly increase the enjoyment for the other partner just as much.

1:42.1

So in today's episode, we're asking the question, are you letting sex happen to you?

1:48.3

Or are you being an active participant in the experience?

1:52.6

And we're also going to talk about what this is like from the male perspective.

1:55.4

So like, what does it feel like if you're the only one initiating or if you're the only

...

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